To compensate for loss of forest payments, a citizens' committee recommends county sales tax.

The proposal was among 19 recommendations from a citizens committee working to make up for the loss of federal payments this year. Curry County, in southwest Oregon, once counted on federal timber sale funding for 61 percent of its general fund budget and 65 percent of its road fund. It is among a dozen counties expected to face budget deficits within a year or two -- Curry estimates a $3 million deficit for 2013-14 -- unless they find replacement funding.